Clear Lake Area Panhellenic Association
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Clear Lake Area Panhellenic Association Sorority Recruitment Information & Reference Booklet 2020 www.clearlakepanhel.org WELCOME TO SORORITY RECRUITMENT The first sorority was founded in 1851. At that time, female students were not fully integrated into campus life at institutions of higher learning. As more women began to seek the advantages of higher education, they banded together on campuses seeking mutual friendships and thereby finding support in their pursuit of education. For more than a hundred and fifty years, these women have written an epic record of leadership, aid to education, achievement, and philanthropy. Today there are 26 sororities recognized by the National Panhellenic Conference. The Clear Lake Area Panhellenic Association (CLAPA) is composed of sorority alumnae representing most of the 26 groups. One of our primary purposes is to assist young women from our area to have the best sorority recruitment experience possible. We would be pleased to provide you and your parents with information about sorority life and possible sorority membership. This may be accomplished by submitting a packet to CLAPA so that we may distribute your information to each sorority alumnae group represented at your university. This serves as an introduction to each group. If you are personally acquainted with a woman that is a member of a sorority, it is a good idea to ask her for a personal recommendation. This recommendation will be given directly to her sorority at the university that you will be attending by her. If you are undecided about participating in recruitment, it is ALWAYS better to go ahead and sign up for recruitment so your information will be processed and ready to go when a decision is made. Please visit us at www.clearlakepanhel.org. By submitting your Recruitment packet to CLAPA, you acknowledge that the information will be distributed to each sororities’ sponsorship chairman and agree that the information will be used in an effort to obtain a personal reference. Recommendations are prepared on a voluntary basis and at the discretion of the alumnae, based on the membership selection criteria (GPA, activities/leadership, character, etc.) of her respective sorority. This procedure does NOT guarantee that a PNM will receive a positive endorsement from every group, nor does it guarantee that a collegiate chapter will recruit these candidates. Please note that CLAPA does NOT have alumnae sponsorship representation for the following groups: Alpha Epsilon Phi, Alpha Gamma Delta, Alpha Sigma Alpha, Alpha Sigma Tau, Phi Sigma Sigma, Pi Beta Phi, Sigma Delta Tau, and Sigma Sigma Sigma. If you are attending a university where any of these groups has a chapter, you will need to seek out an alumna on your own and request that she write you a recommendation. The deadline for packet submissions for all 2020-21 Recruitment is May 1, 2020. For specific information on how to submit packets, please refer to the Reference Packet pages in this booklet. The Clear Lake Area Panhellenic Association recruitment sponsorship program serves these school districts in the Greater Houston Bay Area: Clear Creek, Friendswood, Pearland, Alvin, Brazoswood, Danbury, Texas City, Dickinson, LaPorte, Deer Park, Pasadena and all private schools in the area. For more information about Recruitment or questions on how to submit packets, please contact: Tish Wright Karen Moon Recruitment Chair Recruitment Co-Chair [email protected] [email protected] (832) 721-5521 (832) 524-5259 2 10 FACTS ABOUT GRΣΣK LIFE 1. We are SMART! On average, the all sorority GPA consistently matches, and often well exceeds, the overall campus average for all women. 2. We are DIVERSE! Sororities reflect the diversity of the campus population. 3. We are RESPONSIBLE! Members who make commitments to themselves and their chapter prove to be among the most well respected students. 4. We HELP OTHERS! Greek organizations are recognized for their community service and philanthropic work. 5. We are LEADERS! Greek women are involved in campus activities, are often the most visible campus leaders, and are the most enthusiastic at university events. 6. We DO NOT HAZE! Hazing is illegal. 7. We NETWORK! Greeks are afforded networking opportunities through alumni for job assistance and advice, internship exposure, and general direction when entering the workforce. 8. We have FUN! Greeks have tons of fun! Greeks maintain a balance between the classroom and personal time. Events such as formal dances, retreats, and sisterhood activities are just a few of the fun events. 9. We are FOR LIFE! Initiated members enjoy life-long friendships and a support system that carries from college and out into the real world. 10. We are NOT the TV/movie sorority girl stereotype! Yes, there are social functions, fraternity men and visitors from inter/national organization, but sorority life does not revolve around these things. For additional information about sorority life, please visit The Sorority Life website. It is a great resource for potential members, current members, family and friends. www.thesororitylife.com 3 GENERAL INFORMATION Clear Lake Area Panhellenic Association (CLAPA) will help provide you with general sorority information and will notify CLAPA sorority alumnae groups of your intent to participate in recruitment. THIS DOES NOT REGISTER YOU WITH YOUR COLLEGE PANHELLENIC. On or before May 1, 2020, please turn in your completed, signed & dated Recruitment Information form, social resume’, and photos to the CLAPA Recruitment Chair, Tish Wright, at the address listed in the instructions. If you miss this deadline with CLAPA, it does not mean that you will not be able to participate in recruitment. It does mean that we MAY have difficulty finding alumnae members available to write your references and submit it to the collegiate chapter in time for the recruitment. The CLAPA deadline (May 1st) is the same for BOTH Primary (Fall) and Deferred (Spring) Recruitment! The sorority members use the summer to organize and prepare for recruitment and this includes reviewing potential new member (PNM) packets. Campus Panhellenic Association: When you register with your campus panhellenic (this is REQUIRED), they will send you information about what you can expect during the recruitment process on the campus. Campus registration dates vary, so check the campus Greek website or call to find out the deadline at your university. The information you will receive usually has dress guidelines and photo examples, but we recommend clothing you feel good in and comfortable shoes. Follow the college panhellenics on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Pinterest. Recruitment: The recruitment process is typically 3 to 4 rounds of events, intended for you and the sorority women to meet, for you to learn more about Greek life and the sorority, in particular. The emphasis is on conversation and getting to know each other since this is a mutual selection process. Each sorority has a variety of women, so enjoy the process and talk to as many members that you have the opportunity to meet. Practice your communication skills and make a connection. Sorority Membership…it’s for life! All sororities were created with the desire for friendship, leadership, achievement and philanthropy in the pursuit of higher education. Among the many benefits, it offers you a home away from home, help make the university feel smaller by providing an easy way to connect with others and give you an opportunity to develop leadership skills. This also provides a lifetime of friendship through alumnae associations through the country and abroad where you can make new friends as you move to different locations. Alumnae groups are among the most noted groups that support community non-profit organizations. Sorority membership offers benefits for a lifetime! Scholarship: Although most campus panhellenics publish a minimum GPA requirement of 2.5 to register for recruitment, most sororities require a 3.0 or above to be considered for membership. Each sorority will consider a woman’s ability to adhere to its scholastic standards. There is the expectation that each woman recruited will place importance upon the completion of her education and that she remain involved with the sorority for the full four years. Compatibility: Sororities are based upon friendship, congeniality and mutual ideals. The ability to get along with others and the enjoyment of being with people of diverse personalities are desirable qualities. Involvement: Those who are group oriented and who enjoy working with people are more likely to contribute to sorority operation and to benefit from membership. The potential new member’s resume’ should show a desire to not only “join” an organization, but to also be invested in that organization through her time and leadership. Financial Responsibility: Membership dues finance the sorority. Women participating in the recruitment process should be aware of the cost of membership and be willing to accept this financial obligation. 4 Cost of Membership: Expenses for sorority membership include new member fees, initiation fees, building fees, activity fees and dues. To secure accurate information regarding the expenses for sorority membership on your campus, please go to the Greek life website for your campus or contact the campus panhellenic to find out specific costs for each sorority at that university. Fees will vary by sorority and may change from year to year. If you have the option to live in the sorority house, rent and meal plans will be additional expenses. Typically, year one is the most costly. Recommendations: In order to be able to offer an invitation for membership, some sororities may require a Recommendation (sometimes called a Rec, Sponsorship Form, or Reference Information Form-RIF). This is a prescribed form provided by the sorority’s national office and completed by an alumna of the particular sorority. It includes your personal information and may (or may not) include an endorsement for membership. A recommendation is best written by someone you know personally but can be written by someone who has never met you, but you should provide them your resume’.